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Related: Amal Clooney’s Glossy Hair Secret Is a $30 Shine Spray

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If there’s one person who consistently delivers that impossibly sleek, expensive-looking beauty vibe, it’s Amal Clooney. Whether she’s stepping out on a red carpet or a gala, her hair always looks glossy, smooth and totally rich. It’s the kind of shine that makes Us do a double-take, and wonder what she’s using. Turns out, her […]

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Related: Get Hilary Duff’s Cool-Girl Waves With This $34 Texture Spray

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Hilary Duff is coming clean. The pop artist, who is currently promoting her comeback album luck… or something, recently sat down with Alex Cooper of “Call Her Daddy,” discussing everything from details from her discography to what it was like growing up in the spotlight. While Duff definitely spilled some tea about the behind-the-scenes of […]

Some of the biggest blockbusters and most beloved classics are war movies. It’s a genre that always seems to fascinate people, for understandable reasons. However, there are also plenty of great war films that are not as famous or successful, but which are certainly still worth checking out.

The titles on this list look at war from unusual angles: through the eyes of children, reluctant soldiers, opportunists, or men trapped inside systems they cannot escape. These films may lack the scale or recognition of bigger titles, but they often offer something far more intimate and unsettling.

‘The Bridge’ (1959)

Image via Deutsche Film Hansa

“You must hold the bridge at all costs!” Set in the final days of World War II, The Bridge follows a group of German schoolboys who are conscripted into the army as the Third Reich collapses. Filled with naive patriotism and a desire to prove themselves, they are assigned to defend a small, strategically meaningless bridge. However, reality soon shatters all their illusions. Gunfire rains down, and casualties mount. Director Bernhard Wicki, a major figure of German postwar cinema, builds this premise into a harrowing anti-war statement, critiquing military propaganda in particular.

It’s also simply a tragic coming-of-age story, a portrait of innocence destroyed. At the beginning, the boys treat war as an adventure, but in the end, it’s little more than a nightmare. There are no grand victories for them; only confusion, fear, and irreversible loss. The combat is chaotic, frightening, and stripped of glory. The aesthetic is restrained and realistic, making the message hit all the harder.

‘Overlord’ (1975)

Image via Criterion

“I’ll probably be dead before tomorrow.” Overlord is another bleak but powerful World War II movie, full of food for thought. It centers on Tom Beddows (Brian Stirner), a young British soldier preparing for the D-Day invasion during World War II. Through a mixture of dramatized scenes and archival footage, the film traces his journey from basic training to the eve of the Normandy landings. A sense of inevitability hangs over him the whole way through. From early on, it feels as though Tom’s fate is already sealed.

The film’s style reinforces this unsettling mood. The fusion of news clips and a fictional plot is effective, reminding us that these events were very real. While Tom himself is a creation by the writers, he’s an everyman character, serving as a stand-in for countless young troops who were thrust into this war. Through him, Overlord examines World War II from a more meditative, philosophical perspective than one normally sees, less concerned with action than emotion.

‘Play Dirty’ (1969)

Image via United Artists

“In war, truth is the first casualty.” Michael Caine leads this one as Captain Douglas, a cynical British officer assigned to lead a group of misfit commandos on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines in North Africa during World War II. Their objective is to destroy German fuel depots, but internal rivalries and shifting loyalties threaten the operation from within. In particular, Douglas clashes with the rough, pragmatic Captain Cyril Leech (Nigel Davenport), a man with very different views on discipline and honor.

This setup becomes a tense men-on-a-mission movie in the vein of The Dirty Dozen, but with some class politics and social tensions thrown in. Indeed, Play Dirty is very much a genre movie, but one that frequently subverts audience expectations. It gets unusually bleak as it rolls along, and the characters are a little more complex than one might expect. Caine, as always, elevates his part, convincingly playing someone whose idealism is eroding in contact with reality.

‘My Way Home’ (1965)

Image via MAFILM Stúdió 4

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.” My Way Home is a lyrical Hungarian drama about a young boy (András Kozák) who escapes from a prisoner-of-war camp and attempts to make his way home across a war-torn countryside. Along the way, he forms a fragile, wordless connection with a Russian soldier (Sergei Nikonenko), despite the fact that they cannot understand each other’s language. Their bond becomes a quiet act of defiance against division.

Indeed, the film’s focus is on the possibility of human connection, even across the widest cultural and ideological chasms. It’s an anti-war movie that offers a few glimmers of hope. By removing traditional elements like battles and action, director Miklós Jancsó highlights the loneliness, fear, and randomness that often define the wartime experience. However, even in this grim environment, friendship is possible. The storytelling is fittingly minimalist: dialogue is obviously sparse, and much of the narrative unfolds through movement, silence, and observation.

‘Lacombe, Lucien’ (1974)

Image via 20th Century Studios

“I didn’t choose anything. It just happened.” This war drama was directed by Louis Malle, the filmmaker behind Au revoir les enfants and My Dinner with Andre. The title character (Pierre Blaise) is a bored and directionless French teenager living in rural France during the Nazi occupation. After being rejected by the local Resistance, he impulsively falls in with a group of collaborators working with the German authorities. From there, he becomes increasingly involved in their activities, not out of ideology, but out of convenience, curiosity, and a desire for belonging.

Blaise does a fine job in his role, fleshing the character out and making him feel strikingly real. He and Malle lean into Lucien’s messiness and complexity, as well as his ordinariness. He is passive and often morally indifferent, making some of his actions later in the film all the more disturbing. Through him, the movie raises uncomfortable questions around apathy and how easy it is to participate in oppressive systems.

‘Fires on the Plain’ (1959)

Image via Daiei Film

“I have nothing left to eat.” This Japanese film follows Private Tamura (Eiji Funakoshi), a soldier wandering through the Philippines during the final stages of World War II. Sick, starving, and abandoned by his unit, Tamura is left to fend for himself in a landscape where survival becomes increasingly desperate. He searches for food while encountering other soldiers who have been reduced to the same wretched state. What follows is a deeply grim study of war’s ugliest elements.

The realism is unflinching — Fires on the Plain shows us corpses, abandoned villages, and starving men, all of it disturbingly convincing. However, there are also occasional poetic moments amid the bleakness, and certain objects (like salt and a grenade) take on symbolic weight. This anti-war movie is psychologically intense, too. As Tamura’s condition worsens, the line between sanity and madness begins to blur. His journey becomes not just physical but existential, raising questions about what it means to remain human in extreme conditions.

‘The Train’ (1964)

Image via United Artists

“Art belongs to France.” The Train is an action-thriller directed by John Frankenheimer, best known for The Manchurian Candidate and Ronin. During the final days of World War II in Nazi-occupied France, a German officer (Paul Scofield) is obsessed with transporting stolen French art treasures back to Germany before the Allies arrive. Opposing him is our protagonist, a reluctant French Resistance railway inspector (Burt Lancaster), who is drawn into a dangerous mission to stop the train.

Both lead actors are strong here, and their dynamic is compelling. The German officer, in particular, is more interesting than your average baddie, driven by a genuine desire to preserve art, though one that takes twisted and pathological forms. On the directing side, Frankenheimer keeps the pace brisk and the tension high, serving up several killer set pieces using real locomotives and practical effects. The train crashes, explosions, and sabotage operations feel tangible, which is a key reason the movie works.

‘The Hill’ (1965)

Image via Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

“This place breaks men.” The great Sidney Lumet made this one, though it’s not as well-remembered as his classics like 12 Angry Men or Dog Day Afternoon. The Hill unfolds inside a brutal British military prison camp in North Africa during World War II. There, soldiers who have committed disciplinary offenses endure harsh punishments at the hands of sadistic officers. Cruelest of all, they are forced to repeatedly climb a man-made hill under the scorching sun, a Sisyphean task meant to break their spirits.

At the center of all this is Joe Roberts (Sean Connery), a defiant prisoner who resists the authority of the guards. The focus here is very much on psychology. The central conflict is not between opposing armies, but between individuals and an oppressive authority structure. Lumet does a great job of conveying the emotional strain the characters are under, leaning into close-ups, stark lighting, and claustrophobic framing. The atmosphere is harsh but immersive.

‘Cross of Iron’ (1977)

Image via Constantin Films

“We’re here to kill Russians.” This lean, mean movie from Sam Peckinpah, the master of brutal cinema, bucks convention by having German soldiers as its main characters. Set on the Eastern Front, Cross of Iron follows a unit of German soldiers fighting against overwhelming Soviet forces. They include Sergeant Rolf Steiner (James Coburn), a hardened and pragmatic soldier who cares deeply about the men under his command. He clashes with Captain Stransky (Maximilian Schell), an ambitious officer obsessed with winning the Iron Cross for personal glory.

The film is intense and hardcore, with disorienting action sequences defined by mud, confusion, and deafening explosions. These scenes are frequently absurd, as well, with Peckinpah often juxtaposing moments of brutality with images that highlight its futility. Finally, on the thematic side, Cross of Iron is surprisingly ambiguous and intelligent. It avoids simple notions of good versus evil and instead highlights the shared suffering of individuals caught in a destructive system.

‘The Steel Helmet’ (1951)

Image via Lippert Pictures

“War isn’t what you think it is.” Sergeant Zack (Gene Evans) is an American soldier during the Korean War who survives an ambush and joins a small group of soldiers attempting to reach safety. Along the way, they must contend with enemy forces, unreadable civilians, internal tensions, and tough moral dilemmas. The movie was made on a low budget and tight schedule, which actually works to its benefit, giving everything a raw and urgent feel. At times, it almost seems like a documentary.

Plus, The Steel Helmet deserves credit for being thematically bold at a time when the Korean War was still underway. For instance, the film doesn’t hold back when it comes to critiquing ideological contradictions or racial tensions within the military. This approach was a break with most war movies of the 1950s, which tended to be patriotic and fundamentally upbeat. All in all, The Steel Helmet is a tense, smart movie that has aged well.

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The Steel Helmet

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Release Date

February 2, 1951

Runtime

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85 Minutes

Director

Samuel Fuller

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Stephen Colbert is showing that the end of one chapter can spark an even bigger beginning of another! 

When CBS announced they were pulling the plug on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” with the final episode set for May this year, it signaled the close of Colbert’s late-night era. 

However, as that curtain falls, Colbert is opening a new one, being a screenwriter alongside his son, on a major fantasy film. 

Stephen Colbert Lands Surprising Movie Gig as He Retires From Late-Night 

The 62-year-old host is leaping into blockbuster filmmaking, co-writing a new installment in “The Lord of the Rings” franchise with his son, Peter McGee, and longtime collaborator Philippa Boyens.

Warner Bros. shared the announcement on social media, posting a video of Colbert discussing the project with director Peter Jackson.

Colbert said that he had been a big fan of J.R.R Tolkien’s books but found parts from “The Fellowship of the Ring” that never made it into the original trilogy.

“I thought, Oh wait, maybe that could be its own story that could fit into the larger story,” Colbert said, per the Daily Mail. “Could we make something that was completely faithful to the books while also being completely faithful to the movies that you guys had already made?”

He added that he spoke with his son and they developed a story and summoned the courage to pitch it to the director, who ultimately embraced the idea. The film is called “Shadow of the Past,” and it follows Sam, Merry, Pippin, and Sam’s daughter Elanor as they uncover hidden secrets about the War of the Ring.

The Comedian Had Previously Teased a Career Shift

News of Colbert’s new film venture arrives months after he jokingly hinted at exploring a different path while preparing to exit late-night television.

As The Blast reported, last July, Colbert appeared on the “La Culturistas” podcast hosted by Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, where he playfully challenged them to convince him to try podcasting.

Yang and Rogers teased that if he ever made the change, he would likely surpass their show and dominate Time Magazine’s list of top podcasts. They even pitched ideas, with Yang suggesting a relatable concept centered on dates, co-hosted with Colbert’s wife, Evie McGee.

Colbert first revealed his show’s cancellation during a July 17 broadcast, with CBS later clarifying that the decision was driven purely by financial considerations and not based on ratings.

Donald Trump Mocked Stephen Colbert’s Show Cancellation 

After CBS’s confirmation, Trump was first in line to react, taking to his Truth Social platform to mock Colbert. 

“I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next,” the U.S president wrote, according to The Blast. 

Trump’s remark comes after years of on-air criticism from Colbert. One of such times was when the former “Comedy Central” anchor speculated about the billionaire mogul’s appearance after noticing his hands appeared to be covered with concealer during a public outing.

Stephen Colbert’s Comeback at Trump Earned Him Backlash From MAGA Supporters 

Colbert didn’t hold back in his response to Trump. During a subsequent episode, he quoted Trump’s comment before firing back.

“How dare you, sir? Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? Go f-ck yourself!” the Grammy Winner said. 

However, Colbert’s reply did not land well with social media users, as they slammed him for reportedly incurring losses for the network company. 

Per The Blast, one critic commented, “What a sore loser. He had a staff of over 200 people, a budget of over $100 million, and was paid over $16 million a year. All the while the show was losing $40 million a year!”

Colbert Turns His Exit Into Comedy Material

Despite the show’s impending end, Colbert has continued to find humor in the situation. The Blast reported that at the 2025 Emmy Awards, where he took home a win, he delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech while poking fun at his television career.

He thanked CBS for allowing him to be part of the late-night tradition and expressed hope that it would continue beyond his tenure. Later, while presenting the award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series, the TV personality became the butt of his own jokes. 

Colbert asked if anyone was hiring and then pulled out an old headshot from his early career, quipping that it still “works,” before asking Harrison Ford to deliver it to Steven Spielberg.

The future of “The Bachelorette” is suddenly wide open, and fans already have their pick. Following the cancellation of Season 22 amid controversy surrounding Taylor Frankie Paul, viewers are rallying behind a new name to take the lead: Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher. And now, she’s finally weighing in on the growing buzz.

Bachelor Nation Alum Jill Chin Says Ilona Maher Is The ‘Right Choice’

The push for Maher didn’t come out of nowhere. Bachelor Nation alum Jill Chin took to TikTok as news of the cancellation spread, making it clear she already had someone in mind for the role, and she didn’t hold back.

“You know who is the RIGHT choice for ‘The Bachelorette?’” she asked. “You wanna know who I wanted as ‘The Bachelorette,’ who never would never would have done any of this?” She then pointed to a photo of Maher behind her and added, “This queen right here.” “An Ilona Maher season would have SLAYED,” Chin declared.

Fans quickly echoed the sentiment, with many saying Maher has been their dream pick for years.

Maher Reacts To Fan Frenzy With Humor

Maher is well aware of the growing support, and she’s taking it all in stride. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight at the “Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary” special premiere in Los Angeles, the two-time Olympian addressed the rumors with a lighthearted response.

“It’s very sweet. The only way I would do it, I was talking to Joey Graziadei, the only way I would do it, he would have to executive produce, Alan [Bersten] would have to executive produce,” she said. “My whole friends would, they’d have to check everybody off.”

Maher’s comment about Alan refers to her connection with “Dancing With the Stars” pro Alan Bersten. For those unfamiliar, Bersten has strong ties to Bachelor Nation. He previously won Season 28 alongside Hannah Brown and even went on a date with former “Bachelorette” Gabby Windey in 2023.

Taylor Frankie Paul Drama Led To Season Cancellation

The conversation around a new lead comes after a dramatic turn for the franchise. Taylor Frankie Paul was originally set to star in Season 22, but plans were scrapped after a domestic violence scandal made headlines.

A video obtained by TMZ showed her throwing chairs at her ex, Dakota Mortensen, with one nearly hitting a child. According to a police report, the child, who was five at the time, was injured during the incident and had “a goose egg on her head.”

The video surfaced after a source claimed that production on Season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” was paused following Paul’s alleged second domestic violence incident involving Mortensen in February 2026.

Taylor Frankie Paul Sentenced To Probation In Assault Case

The video became a key piece of evidence in a felony aggravated assault case, which ultimately ended in a plea deal. Paul was sentenced to three years’ probation, which is set to expire in August. As part of the agreement, four additional charges, including domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse, and criminal mischief, were dropped.

In the aftermath, Dakota Mortensen was granted a temporary restraining order, alleging that Paul posed an “immediate threat” to his safety. The order bars Paul from contacting Mortensen and their two-year-old son, Ever, until a scheduled court hearing on April 7.

ABC Cancels ‘The Bachelorette’ Season Amid Scandal Fallout

In response to the controversy surrounding the newly released video, ABC ultimately pulled the plug on the season entirely, leaving the future of the show, and its next leading lady, up in the air.

“In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of ‘The Bachelorette’ at this time,” the statement from ABC read. “Our focus is on supporting the family.”

Behind the scenes, however, the situation had already been escalating. According to an insider, tensions reportedly escalated during an individual date when contestant Casey Hux brought up Paul’s 2023 domestic violence arrest in an attempt to understand her past, but the conversation quickly took a turn as Paul had “a full-fledged meltdown” and “stormed off set.”

Meanwhile, as fans loudly back Ilona Maher and Maher playfully entertains the idea, the question now is whether the franchise will actually make the move to make the Olympian the next lead.

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Usher has offered support for Sean “Diddy” Combs as the rapper serves a 50-month prison sentence.

Diddy became a controversial figure following his indictment on multiple sexual offense charges in 2023. Although he was ultimately found guilty on only two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, the negative narrative surrounding the Bad Boy Records founder has persisted.

For Usher, however, he maintains that he has nothing negative to say about his former mentor, prompting praise from Diddy, who thanked the singer for his kind words.

Usher Claims He Has Nothing Negative To Say About Diddy

Following months of silence during Sean “Diddy” Combs’ high-profile prosecution, Usher has seemingly stepped forward with remarks that cast the jailed rapper in a more favorable light.

The pair’s connection dates back to the early ’90s, when Diddy guided Usher’s early career, even taking on a legal guardian role before helping shape his 1994 debut album as co-executive producer.

In a new interview with Forbes, Usher was asked to name a word that comes to mind when his mentor’s name is mentioned, to which the singer replied, “Legacy.“

He then went on to give a detailed remark about how he thinks the Bad Boys Records founder has been “misrepresented” by the public.

“In many ways, I think certain people are prosecuted and maybe not recognized for the greatness that they offer,” Usher said of Diddy, who is currently serving 50 months behind bars for two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

“I don’t have anything negative to say about Sean Combs because my experience was not what the world has seen and how he’s been misrepresented,” he added, per Variety.

Usher Explained Why He Is Supporting Diddy

While sharing his views on Diddy, Usher acknowledged that his former mentor is not perfect, just like any other person.

However, the “Yeah!” crooner emphasized that his sense of humanity compels him to recognize Diddy’s impact on the music industry, particularly for Black artists.

“I can’t with any sense of humanity not recognize the valuable contributions that this man made for us as Black entrepreneurs, for us as businessmen, for us as people who have transitioned culture and ideas into something that’s tangible,” Usher said of his former mentor.

The Rapper Thanks Usher For His Kind Words

For Usher, it remains abundantly clear just how many people have benefited from Diddy’s influence, and for that reason, he chooses to focus on that legacy rather than the allegations that have surrounded the rapper in recent times.

“That’s who I see that man as. And that’s what I choose to remember,” added the “Good Good” singer. “I put respect on his name because I realized that what I learned as a businessman before I even understood what business was came as a result of seeing the incredible things that he was able to do and the way that he positioned himself as a businessman.”

Diddy was clearly touched by Usher’s words as he expressed appreciation for the singer through his spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer.

“I’ve always had love and respect for Usher. I appreciate his words and everything he’s achieved,” the rapper said, per TMZ.

Netizens Berated Usher Over His Diddy Comments

Online, netizens did not find Usher’s comments appropriate, with many pointing out how Diddy was violent toward his alleged victims, including his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.

“For Usher to say Diddy is misrepresented is wrong and very disrespectful to Cassie and other victims that suffered domestic violence from Diddy. It’s like he’s disregarding their experiences. These comments from Usher are very disappointing,” a user wrote.

“It really shouldn’t shock me that there are black men out here who would say Diddy’s been ‘misrepresented,’ but yet here I am. What a profoundly hurtful and disappointing comment from Usher,” another individual aired.

One more wrote, “Usher really said, ‘My experience was not what the world has seen.’ Bro, you LIVED THERE at 13. What exactly was YOUR version of events because the rest of us are connecting dots you’re pretending aren’t there.”

Usher’s Friend Recently Claimed Incident With Justin Bieber Was Taken Out Of Context

Usher’s shocking support of Diddy comes on the heels of an alleged altercation he had with Justin Bieber, whom he mentored and allowed Diddy to have access to when the singer was still a teenage sensation.

Some claimed that the alleged altercation was sparked by Bieber finally confronting Usher for not protecting him from bad industry influences, while other sources also claimed that the feud had been long coming and that there was no hope for reconciliation.

However, according to a friend of Usher who claimed to have spoken with the singer, the incident between Usher and Bieber was exaggerated, and the two remain on good terms.

“People just take things out of context when they see something, and they run with it, and I’m just here to say that is not the issue,” said Usher’s friend Da Brat, per the Daily Mail. “They are definitely cool with each other, and they have love, and they support each other.”

Spoiler Alert: This list includes spoilers for the ‘Invincible’ series and comics.While some absolute powerhouses have been depicted in the Invincible series on Prime Video thus far, fans have yet to experience the absolute strength shown off by both new and already introduced characters in the comic books. Even with multiple seasons now released, the animated series is still adapting only part of the original comic storyline, meaning many of the biggest power shifts, characters, and battles from Invincible‘s later arcs have yet to fully reshape the show’s on-screen hierarchy.

While there are still super-strong characters that have yet to make their way to the series, characters like Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) himself and even Battle Beast (Michael Dorn) have yet to show off their true strength or go through the growth that eventually makes them more powerful. There’s a reason that Invincible is one of the best superhero shows of all time.

10

Angstrom Levy

First appearance: Invincible #16 (2004)

Image via Image Comics

Fans of the animated show are more than familiar with Angstrom Levy (Sterling K. Brown) at this point, thanks to his growing role as a multiversal threat and his connection to the upcoming Invincible War storyline. Because of this, pretty much everyone already knows about Angstrom’s powers: the ability to travel dimensions and open dimensional portals at will.

Such an ability already makes him an overpowered villain, but he has also had his body radically transformed to be more of a physical match for Invincible. While he’s not as strong as the hero, Levy is far more powerful than the average bear. All of that, paired up with a genius-level intellect, makes him one of the worst things to happen to Mark Grayson and, therefore, one of the absolute toughest villains of the young man.

9

Atom Eve (Samantha Eve Wilkins)

First appearance: Invincible #2 (2003)

Image via Image Comics

A few years ago, audiences of the series may not have thought Atom Eve (Gillian Jacobs) belonged on a list of the strongest Invincible characters from the comics. But due to the finale of the third season, Invincible Season 3, Episode 8, “I Thought You’d Never Shut Up,” non-comic readers finally got to witness the absurd amount of power that she holds.

At the end of the episode, after she seemingly dies, the show depicts the moment in which she overcomes her mental blocks and reforms her body. This has huge implications for her abilities, given the fact that it’s always been established that she can’t change biological matter, but with that change, she has become a borderline otherworldly force and one of the Invincible world’s best superheroes.

8

General Kregg

Image via Image Comics

To be a general of the Viltrumite Empire, one has to be pretty dang strong. In the show, General Kregg (Clancy Brown) hasn’t been shown off much, and, honestly, his power isn’t shown off a ton in the comic, either. This doesn’t mean the strength isn’t there, though. His position, the way people speak about him, and the few feats he does accomplish in front of readers prove that he is a worthy opponent.

Unlike a lot of his comrades and inferiors in the Viltrumite Empire, Kregg is not as bellicose. He is quite a calm and logical general, and that actually makes him even more of a threat, because the only thing more dangerous than a bloodthirsty Viltrumite is precise and knows exactly what he’s doing three steps ahead of his opponent.

7

Anissa

First appearance: Invincible #44 (2007)

Image via Image Comics

At the end of the day, Anissa (Shantel VanSanten) and Kregg are on pretty equal ground when it comes to power. Anissa gets the upper hand in power-scaling, however, mainly because audiences/readers have gotten to and will get to see way more of her accomplishments than the former’s and because she is a perfect mix of typical Viltrumite bloodthirsty nature and Kregg’s level-headed demeanor.

She effortlessly whoops the snot out of Mark on multiple occasions, one of them being adapted to the show already in the animated series’ Invincible Season 2, Episode 7, “I’m Not Going Anywhere.” There are more instances of this to come in the future, as well. She holds the merciless and battle-hungry nature of a typical Viltrumite, but knows exactly how to tactically exploit her enemy’s weaknesses.

6

Conquest

First appearance: Invincible #61 (2009)

Image via Prime Video

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After making quite the mark (an understatement) in the Prime Video series, Conquest (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) remains one of the most talked-about villains introduced in Season 3. He’s given Mark the worst beating of his entire life thus far, and was only defeated because Atom Eve had her big power-up. As shown at the end of Invincible Season 3, Episode 8, “I Thought You’d Never Shut Up,” Cecil (Walton Goggins) decided to keep him hostage, and, obviously, this is going to come to bite them in the rear.

Despite eventually being beaten by Omni-Man in the future, this doesn’t mean that when they eventually face off, he puts up an incredible fight. The way he absolutely and practically slaughtered Mark in their first fight shows just how much raw power he holds. He also has an immense love for, well, conquest and holds nothing back in his fights—that’s certainly a valid reason to be one of the strongest in Invincible.

5

Omni-Man (Nolan Grayson)

First appearance: Invincible #1 (2003)

Image via Prime Video

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The first big villain of the Invincible series was Mark Grayson’s own father, Nolan Grayson (J.K. Simmons)—or, as the Earth knows him, Omni-Man. Nolan was also the first big example of how strong the Viltrumite race is and the terrible future to come for Mark regarding his new role as the man to “prepare the Earth” for the empire.

Some may think that Nolan’s best showcase of power was at the end of the first season or, more recently, when he and Allen (Seth Rogen) teamed up and kicked the crap out of a few Viltrumites, but the best is yet to come. He also destroyed an entire planet in Season 1, but he will come to beat Conquest to death and even take on the strongest Viltrumite, Thragg.

4

Allen the Alien

First appearance: Invincible #5 (2003)

Image via Image Comics

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After being completely decimated by the Viltrumites in Invincible #23 and Invincible Season 2, Episode 3, “This Missive, This Machination!,” Allen was put into a comat and began a process that would eventually turn him into the ultimate weapon against the Viltrumite Empire—making him the same level or just under the level of strength the average Viltrumite sits at.

He would become absolutely vital in the Viltrumite War and did wonders in the fight for good. Allen is one of the only non-Viltrumite heroes who can truly stand up against and kill the world-conquering race. This makes him a force to be reckoned with and not to be underestimated in the slightest in the acclaimed superhero show.

3

Battle Beast (Thokk)

First appearance: Invincible #19 (2004)

Image via Image Comics

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Ever since his introduction in Invincible #19, Battle Beast has been a massive favorite among the Invincible fan base, and for very good reason. Action is one of the highlights of both the comic and the show, and if anyone brings the action, it’s Battle Beast. His profound strength might make him one of the most memorable characters in the franchise. So much so that he just recently got a solo comic book series launched in May 2025 titled Invincible Universe Battle Beast.

Alongside Allen, his strength makes him one of the few non-Viltrumites to be able to kill one. His beast-like form, mastery of weaponry, superhuman reflexes, physical strength, durability, healing, and his desire only for a worthy challenge make him seemingly unbeatable to most. He cares not for villainy or heroism. He simply seeks a good fight.

2

Grand Regent Thragg

First appearance: Invincible #11 (2004)

Image via Image Comics

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The true big bad of Invincible is none other than Grand Regent Thragg, the leader of the Viltrumites and the strongest of them all (for his time, alive, that is). Thragg earns his title as the overarching villain of the franchise through the astounding strength he possesses and the feats he accomplishes throughout the book.

The best way to describe the power Thragg holds is to imagine the grand strength a Viltrumite like Omni-Man has and multiply that by three. The only way Mark managed to beat him was by flying him into the sun itself and ripping his throat out with his teeth. He fought Battle Beast for days on end before murdering him.

1

Invincible (Mark Grayson)

First appearance: Invincible #1 (2003)

Image via Prime Video

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While the common joke of the series is that for a hero named Invincible, he’s quite “vincible,” Mark comes to be the strongest there is by the end of the series. There’s a bit of discussion surrounding Mark’s power-level in the fandom, but the proof is in the pudding with his power by the end of the comic run.

By the time Mark becomes the Emperor of Viltrum, he’s on the road to being the strongest character in the universe. Viltrumites grow exponentially stronger as they age, so the sheer fact that Mark, in his 20s, could beat Thragg in his prime in any way, shape, or form, is proof enough that by the time he’s Nolan’s current age, he’ll be virtually… invincible.

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Invincible

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Release Date

March 26, 2021

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Amazon Prime Video

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The 1970s were a major decade in the history of American cinema, a period that saw the dawn of new filmmaking techniques and the breakthroughs of now-legendary filmmakers. But not every great movie that hit theaters in those days made it big, and far too many have been all but forgotten in the years since. Thankfully, with streaming services like Netflix, audiences now enjoy unprecedented access to these underrated films, so you can revisit the style, flavor, and music of the decade with fresh eyes and ears, and maybe even discover a long-forgotten cinematic masterpiece.

The ’70s produced several groundbreaking classics and blockbuster franchises, iconic crime sagas and beloved comedies, all of which continue to have a significant influence on cinema today, and even the lesser-known films of the decade still resonate with the right audiences. Netflix’s particular selection of ’70s movies may be a little limited, but it does include some must-watch classics that have played an important role in the development of popular culture. So, without further ado, here’s our handpicked selection of some of the best 1970s movies you can watch on Netflix that may be mostly forgotten but are just waiting to be rediscovered by a brand-new audience.

1

‘The Sting’ (1973)

Image via Universal Pictures

Directed by George Roy Hill, The Sting is a 1973 caper film starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, reuniting the trio after their work on 1969’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Inspired by the real-life cons of brothers Fred and Charley Gondorff, as documented in David Maurer’s 1940 book The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man, the movie follows two conmen who hatch a complicated scheme targeting a mob boss (Robert Shaw). Charles Durning, Ray Walston, Eileen Brennan, Harold Gould, John Heffernan, and more star in supporting roles.

The Sting was a major success of the 1970s, earning critical acclaim and box office success. A stylish and entertaining conman movie, the film features some great performances, a well-crafted production, and an excellent ragtime soundtrack adapted from the works of Scott Joplin. The film earned several awards, including seven Oscars, and is credited with reviving Newman’s career after an extended period of box office bombs. A sequel followed in 1983, and in 2005, The Sting was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

2

‘Rooster Cogburn’ (1975)

Image via Universal Pictures

Directed by Stuart Millar, Rooster Cogburn is a Western starring John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn that serves as a sequel to 1969’s True Grit. The film continues the adventures of Wayne’s titular character, an aging lawman with one eye who is suspended for his violent behavior, following his attempts to redeem himself by bringing in a group of outlaws who have stolen a shipment of nitroglycerine with the help of a spinster (Hepburn) whose father was murdered by the criminals. The movie also features Richard Jordan, Anthony Zerbe, John McIntire, Paul Koslo, Richard Romancito, Tommy Lee, and Strother Martin in supporting roles.

Unlike its predecessor, Rooster Cogburn was neither a critical success nor a box office hit, underperforming on both counts despite its star power. Part of the problem is that the story is more or less a recycled version of True Grit. On the other hand, the film does feature a pair of solid performances by its two legendary stars. John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn’s chemistry is the film’s saving grace, and it makes the movie a worthwhile revisit for modern-day viewers who want to see more of their classic work.

3

‘The Great Waldo Pepper’ (1975)

Image via Universal Pictures

Directed, produced, and co-written by George Roy Hill, The Great Waldo Pepper sees the filmmaker reunite with Robert Redford once again, this time in an aviation drama set between 1926 and 1931. The movie chronicles various episodes in the life of the titular pilot, a World War I veteran who works as a stunt flier and laments the fact that he never got to fly in combat. Besides Redford, the film also features Margot Kidder, Bo Svenson, Edward Herrmann, and Susan Sarandon in key roles.

Inspired by the real 1920s culture of barnstorming and associated accidents that led to stricter aviation regulations, The Great Waldo Pepper may have had mixed reviews in its day, but it’s a highly detailed historical film that provides real insights into its time period. The film was also very popular at the box office, largely thanks to its spectacular aerial stunts, which were performed using real aircraft, making it an evergreen favorite among aviation enthusiasts. Pair that with a quintessentially charming performance by Robert Redford, and you get a real classic with timeless appeal.

4

‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ (1969)

Image via MGM

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The sixth James Bond movie, and the first and only one starring George Lazenby, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service technically premiered at the tail end of 1969, but its theatrical run continued through early 1970. Inspired by the Ian Fleming novel and directed by Peter R. Hunt, the film sees Bond go up against his archenemy, Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Telly Savalas), while falling in love with and eventually marrying the daughter of a crime boss, Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg). Bernard Lee, Gabriele Ferzetti, Ilse Steppat, and more feature in supporting roles.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is an outlier among the classic James Bond movies, with a greater degree of tragedy, romance, and drama to its story than other entries. The film was fairly successful at the box office when it premiered, but its critical reception was quite mixed, though it has since been reevaluated as one of the most compelling Bond movies of all time. Though it’s still a relatively underrated film in the massive franchise, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is a truly unique Bond film that’s a must-watch for any fan of the iconic spy character.

5

‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ (1978)

Image via Universal Pictures

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Directed by Michael Schultz and written by Henry Edwards, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is a jukebox musical comedy starring Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees. Inspired by the album by the Beatles, and featuring new versions of the iconic band’s songs, the movie follows a loose story about a band struggling with the realities of the music industry and evil forces that want to steal their instruments and corrupt their hometown. The film’s ensemble cast also features Donald Pleasence, Steve Martin, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Earth, Wind & Fire, Billy Preston, George Burns, and more.

Before the movie’s release in 1978, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was expected to be a massive success, an era-defining blockbuster, and a new cultural landmark. In reality, it was none of those things, receiving middling box office success and terrible reviews. But though it was widely reviled in its time, the film has evolved into a campy cult movie enjoyed by fans of classic rock, and it has earned some praise for Steve Martin’s performance and the musical numbers by Aerosmith and Earth, Wind & Fire.

6

‘Same Time, Next Year’ (1978)

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Directed by Robert Mulligan, Same Time, Next Year is a romantic comedy-drama starring Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn. Written by Bernard Slade and based on his 1975 play, the film explores the relationship between Doris (Burstyn) and George (Alda), who are both married to other people but meet up every year at the same hotel for an annual tryst, chronicling the slow evolution of their connection. In the process, their lives also become a mirror to the social and political history of their time.

Unlike the play it’s based on, Same Time, Next Year was not very well-received by critics or audiences, and the film has been largely forgotten in the decades since its release. However, the movie does present a sober, clear-eyed perspective on life, love, and the human condition, elevated by the powerhouse performance of its lead stars. And though it may not have been a critical darling, the film did go on to receive several accolades in its day, including four Oscar nominations and a Golden Globe win for Ellen Burstyn.

7

‘Save the Children’ (1973)

A landmark concert film, Save the Children is a documentary movie directed by Stan Lathan that documents the five-day PUSH Expo held in Chicago in 1972, organized by Rev. Jesse Jackson’s social justice organization Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity). The film features performances by many of the top musicians of its time, across genres, including icons like Bill Withers, The Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Sammy Davis Jr., Cuba Gooding Sr., Roberta Flack, and more.

Essentially a cultural showcase of Black talent in the 1970s, Save the Children is a historically significant documentary film, but it was fairly unknown for a long time. The film was digitally restored and re-released by Netflix in 2023, bringing new attention to the movie fifty years after its release. Though it’s still not as widely watched as it ought to be, this film is a must-see for anyone who wishes to revisit the culture, spirit, and especially music of the 1970s.

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Release Date

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May 13, 1973

Runtime

123 minutes

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Director

Stan Lathan

Producers

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Clarence Avant

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